Qarase's court challenge will now be heard in Suva Supreme court next year

The deposed Fiji prime minister, Laisenia Qarase's legal challenge to the overthrow of his government will now be heard next year.

Preliminary matters in the case could not be sorted out earlier this month after lawyers for the two sides failed to agree on the issues to be decided by the court and the list of witnesses who should be called.

Radio Legend reports that the case will now be called on January 29th next year.

On that day the acting chief justice, Anthony Gates, and Justices John Byrne and Devendra Pathik will preside over a pre-trial conference and interlocutory hearings.

The lead counsels for both sides, Nye Parram for Mr Qarase and Gerard McCoy for Commodore Bainimarama, who are both from overseas, have been told to be present for this pre-trial conference

The trial proper has been set to begin on March the 24th next year in the Supreme Court.